Walking Overdoses: A Re-Appraisal of Non-Fatal Illicit Drug Overdose

Characteristics of non‐fatal opioid overdoses attended by ambulance services in Australia

“…As indicated, the definition of heroin and other opioid overdose is problematic. 7,22 In this research heroin and/or other opioid involvement was determined through ambulance protocols operating within the jurisdictions, which var y considerably. This variance resulted in two markers of heroin and/or other opioid involvement in ambulance attendances being used dependent upon the management practices and/or data collection systems of ambulance ser vices.…”

Wasted, overdosed, or beyond saving – To act or not to act? Heroin users’ views, assessments, and responses to witnessed overdoses in Malmö, Sweden

“…From previous research it is clear that overdoses can make for complex and hard-to-define situations. Although several typical symptoms can be defined, there is no absolute unity, either among users or researchers, about what constitutes an overdose (Fitzgerald, Hamilton, & Dietze, 2000). There is a wide spectrum between a powerful overdose-like heroin high and a fatal overdose (Gore, 1997;Svensson, 2005), and overdoses often entail a successive process in which the victim may die sometime after initial overdose symptoms (Sporer, 2003).…”

Patterns and Characteristics of Ambulance Attendance at Heroin Overdose at a Local-Area Level in Melbourne, Australia: Implications for Service Provision

“…While there is some difficulty in defining heroin overdose, 16,18 the clinical practice guidelines for treatment of narcotic overdose by the MAS (initial ventilation with 100% oxygen and the subsequent administration of naloxone) permit the use of a positive response to naloxone administration as a marker for opioid involvement. 10,19 Additional attendances for which there was evidence of heroin involvement (e.g., stated by person attended or other persons at the scene) 15 were not included for analysis in this article.…”